Filling day tank

[martinriches]

I have a 22 litre day filled by a electric pump from the main tanks.You have to monitor the level and switch it on and off as required.Is this the usual arrangement or is there a automatic float switch thing I could rig up ? I know one day I am going to forget to to check the level and we will run out.

Martin

 

[jrudge]

That would last me 6 minutes :-(

If a fuel tank can have a float for a gauge I can't see why this tank can't.

You could just leave it running and divert the overflow back into the main tank, or have an electronic timer running that when the ignition is on gives you x minutes every hour or whatever - i.e. approx matching your rule consumption ... or take it out all together!

 

[Prhperio]

Just a thought but if you went down jrudge's route how about putting an extra filter in the system and you've automatic fuel polishing?

 

[jfm]

I have a 22 litre day filled by a electric pump from the main tanks.You have to monitor the level and switch it on and off as required.Is this the usual arrangement or is there a automatic float switch thing I could rig up ? I know one day I am going to forget to to check the level and we will run out.

Martin

22 litres is tiny. I wonder whether you should get rid of it:

1. Unless you have a back up to the electric transfer pump, you might have introduced an electric device that can fail on a lee shore
2. Fuel is used to cool the engines as well as feed them, but with only 22 litres you have very little heat capacity in your fuel so it will get hotter faster, which isn't good
3. Unless you are polishing fuel before it enters the day tank, it isn't bringing much to the party really

But apart from all that you could definitely fit a float switch to turn on the elec pump automatically. You can get a "float" switch that affixes just to the outside of the tank I think, which would be handy. You'd then need a relay to turn on the pump. Or you could hijack the level sender if there is one fitted (its probably a resistance sender) and use a preset voltage to turn on the pump via an electronic controller off ebay

 

[martinriches]

I only use 3 or 4 litres a hour but it is still something I have to keep an eye on. I am having problems with the electric pump it's blowing fuses had to put a 15a one in to get us home last weekend [up from 5a.] so I am going to replace the pump.
I like the idea of fuel polishing I will look into that.

The date on the daytank is 2002 and the boat is 1991 so it was an addition. I am wondering why?